Courses Under Political Science University of Ghana UG
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PROGRAMMME STRUCTURE
LEVEL 100
First Semester
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| *UGRC 110 | Academic Writing 1 | 3 |
| *UGRC 120 | Numeracy Skills | 3 |
| *UGRC 141-146 | Science and Technology in our Lives | 3 |
| *UGRC 150 | Critical Thinking and Practical Reasoning | 3 |
| POLI 111 | Introduction to the Study of Political Science | 3 |
| Other Subjects | 2 courses from 2 other assigned Departments | 6 |
| Minimum Credits Required | 15 |
*Note: Students to choose any 2 courses (6 credits) of the UGRC
Second Semester
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| *UGRC 110 | Academic Writing 1 | 3 |
| *UGRC 120 | Numeracy Skills | 3 |
| *UGRC 141-146 | Science and Technology in our Lives | 3 |
| *UGRC 150 | Critical Thinking and Practical Reasoning | 3 |
| POLI 112 | Political Institutions | 3 |
| Other Subjects | 2 courses from 2 other assigned Departments | 6 |
| Minimum Credits Required | 15 |
*Note: Students to choose any 2 courses (6 credits) of the UGRC
LEVEL 200
First Semester
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| *UGRC 210 | Academic Writing II | 3 |
| UGRC 220-238* | Introduction to African Studies | 3 |
| POLI 211 | Introduction to Development Studies | 3 |
| POLI 213 | Introduction to Public Administration | 3 |
| Other Subjects | 2 Courses from the other assigned Department | 6 |
| Minimum Credits Required | 15 |
*Note: Students to choose UGRC 210 or UGRC 220-238* (3 credits).
Second Semester
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| *UGRC 210 | Academic Writing II | 3 |
| * UGRC 220-238 | Introduction to African Studies | 3 |
| POLI 212 | Introduction to International Politics | 3 |
| POLI 214 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| OTHER SUBJECTS | 2 Courses from the other assigned Department | 6 |
| Minimum Credits Required | 15 |
*Note: Students to choose UGRC 210 or UGRC 220-238* (3 credits).
LEVEL 300
MAJORING ± Both core courses, POLI 341 and POLI 343, for first semester, and POLI 342 and POLI 344 for second semester. Students will also take at least two electives to satisfy the minimum requirement for majoring students each semester.
COMBINING ± Two core courses and one elective for each semester. Students offering Research Methods or its equivalent in Economics, Psychology, Sociology and Information Studies can substitute a prescribed elective for the research methods course.
MINORING ± At least one core course and one elective per semester. Minoring students could also take two core courses and one elective or one core course and two electives.
First Semester
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| POLI 341 | Ancient and Medieval Political Thought | 3 |
| POLI 343 | Introduction to Political Research | 3 |
| PRESCRIBED ELECTIVES | ||
| POLI 345: | International Organizations | 3 |
| POLI 347: | , International Conflict, Conflict Resolution and Human Rights | 3 |
| POLI 349: | Ghana: From Colonialism to Independence | 3 |
| POLI 351: | Africa: Political Economy of Colonialism | 3 |
| POLI 357: | Organization Theory | 3 |
| POLI 359: | Public Policy Making | 3 |
| POLI 363: | Terrorism and Global Security | 3 |
| OTHER | Any ONE course from the other assigned subject/ | 3 |
| SUBJECT | Department | |
| Minimum Credits Required | 15 |
Second Semester
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| POLI 342 | Modern Western Political Thought | 3 |
| POLI 344 | Methods of Political Research | 3 |
| PRESCRIBED ELECTIVES | ||
| POLI 346
| Africa and the Global System
| 3
|
| POLI 352: | Issues in Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLI 356: | Strategies of Development in Africa | 3 |
| POLI 358: | Conflict and Society in Africa | 3 |
| POLI 362: | Development Administration | 3 |
| POLI 364: | Public Policy Process in Ghana | 3 |
| OTHER SUBJECT
| Any ONE course from the other assigned subject/ Department | 3
|
| Minimum Credits Required | 15 |
LEVEL 400
MAJORING ± Both core courses and at least four elective courses for each semester.
Long Essay students ± Two core courses and at least three elective courses. COMBINING ± Two core courses and one elective for each semester.
PROGRAMMME STRUCTURE
First Semester
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| POLI 441
| 3ROLWLFDO(FRQRP\RI$IULFD¶V’HYHORSPHQWVLQFH Independence | 3 |
| POLI 443 | Applied Political Research | 3 |
| Prescribed electives | ||
| POLI 445 | Politics of International Economic Relations | 3 |
| POLI 447 | Foreign Policy Analysis | 3 |
| POLI 449 | Politics in Developing Countries – West Africa | 3 |
| POLI 453 | Gender and Politics | 3 |
| POLI 455 | Post-Conflict Peace-Building and Transitional Justice | 3 |
| POLI 457 | Human Resource Development and Management | 3 |
| POLI 459 | Decentralization and Local Govt. Administration | 3 |
| POLI 461 | U.S. Policy Towards Africa | 3 |
| Minimum Credits Required | 15 |
Second Semester
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| POLI 442 | Social and Political Theory | 3 |
| POLI 444 | Electoral Politics and Democracy in Ghana | 3 |
| Prescribed electives | ||
| POLI 446: | 3 | |
| POLI 448 | , | 3 |
| POLI 452: | Political and Economic Reform & Democracy in Africa | 3 |
| POLI 454: | Civil-Military Politics in Ghana since Independence | 3 |
| POLI 458: | Politics of Identity in Ghana | 3 |
| POLI 464: | Politics and the Bureaucracy in Africa | 3 |
| Free electives | 3 | |
| POLI 468 | Human Rights in Africa | 3 |
| POLI 472 | Public Finance Administration | 3 |
| Minimum Credits Required | 15 |
Course Descriptions
POLI 111: Introduction to the study of Political Science
Definition(s) of Political Science; nature, scope. key approaches to the study of Political Science; outline of the various branches of Political Science and some basic political processes – including rule making, policy making, rule application and rule adjudication, interest articulation and aggregation, political recruitment etc.
POLI 112: Political Institutions
This is a study of African traditional political institutions and modern political institutions including the executive, legislature, judiciary, bureaucracy, forms of representation and electoral process, pressure groups and political parties etc.
POLI 211: Introduction to Development Studies
This course provides an introduction to the basic ideas, concepts, principles and theories of development studies.
POLI 213: Introduction to Public Administration
This course is an introduction to the basic ideas, concepts, principles and theories of public administration, decentralization, co-production, role of state in national investment etc.
POLI 212: Introduction to International Politics
The course examines the nature, scope and meaning of international politics; theory and its relevance to international politics, the traditional-scientific debate; the concept of national interest actors in international politics- state, governmental, non-governmental, etc, determinants of foreign policy, power in international politics; the Cold War and its aftermath.
POLI 214: Introduction to Comparative Politics
The course deals with basic elements and methods of comparing politics among nations with case studies. There will be an introduction to key theories: functionalism, modernization, behaviouralism approach, dependency, etc.
LEVEL 300 COURSES CORE:
POLI 341: Ancient and Medieval Political Thought
This is a study of Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Augustine, Aquinas and Machiavelli.
POLI 343: Introduction to Political Research
The course will introduce students to aims and objectives social research; different approaches to research-e.g. empirical research ± and their characteristics; problems of verification, objectivity generalization, explanation (theory building) and prediction; normative and non- normative knowledge, and computing methods-developing computer-based skills.
PRESCRIBED ELECTIVES:
- International Politics:
POLI 345: International Organizations
Topics to be treated in this course include the aims, objectives and problems of the League of Nations, the aims, objectives, problems and future roles of the United Nations and its agencies, the OAU/African Union, ECOWAS and European Union.
POLI 347: International Conflict, Conflict Resolution and Human Rights The course will deal with the nature, sources and types of international conflict, conflict behaviour among states, mechanisms for conflict resolution (e.g. negotiations, mediation, arbitration), peace and justice and institutions like International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court etc.).
- Comparative Politics:
POLI 349: Ghana from Colonialism to Independence
The course will focus on analyses of colonial policies and their impact ± social, economic and political; the anti-colonial struggle.
POLI 351: Africa: Political Economy of Colonialism
The course will be on the forces that shaped the colonization of Africa; colonialism and its social, economic and political impact on Africa; liberation movements, struggles for independence.
- Development Studies
POLI 353: Theories of Development and Underdevelopment
The course will provide a review of some of the main works on the theories of development and underdevelopment ±classical, liberal and Marxist theories; Rostow, Frank, Amin, Wallerstein.
POLI 355: Identities and Conflicts in Africa
This course will explore theories of identity, identity crisis and governance and their impact on the state, constitutions, development ± civil wars, ethnic and religious strives, minority conflicts ± with case studies.
- Public Administration POLI 357: Organization Theory
The focus of the course will be the structure and functioning of organizations and the behaviour of groups and individuals within them. Theories of organisation, e.g. structural, group/behavioural, individual, decision making and policy analysis as well as the sociotechnical system will be exa mined.
POLI 359: Public Policy Makings
Models of public policy making and implementation; policy environment; policy networks and communities; conditions to effective public policy making will be the focus.
ELECTIVES
POLI 361: Governance and Leadership
The course will look at the concept of governance, leadership, theories, forms of leadership ± traditional, corporate, political etc; relationships between governance and leadership; the role of governance and leadership in promoting development; barriers to good governance and effective leadership.
POLI 363: Terrorism and Global Security
This course will cover traditional theories of global security; changing patterns of security; emergence of terrorist networks ± origins, nature, methods/processes and impact on global security.
POLI 365: Environmental Politics
This is a study of changing patterns of resource extraction and their impact of environmental sustainability; international conventions, community rights and environmental movements; conflicts and livelihoods.
POLI 367: Introduction to American Politics
This course will explore the workings of the federal system of government in theory, practice and structure.
Semester 2
CORE:
POLI 362: Modern Western Political Thought
This is a study of selected European thinkers Bodin, Montesquieu and James Madison on the rise of modern state, and the separation of powers and grounds of political obligation and civil disobedience by Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau etc.
POLI 364: Methods of Political Research
The course will introduce students to inductive and deductive methods; research designexperimental, Non-experimental (e.g. case study) design etc: formulating a research question or problem, and explaining or defining the problem ± independent and dependent variables, etc; conceptual definition and operationalisation; units of analysis; formulating hypotheses, types of hypotheses. Methods of Survey Research. Computing methods- developing computerbased skills. Problems of measurement ± reliability, validity; levels of measurement- nominal, ordinal, interval and ratio will be dealt with.
PRESCRIBED ELECTIVES:
- International Politics:
POLI 346: Africa in the Global System
This course is about the history and dynamics of world economy and global power F
POLI 348: Regional Integration
This will be an explanation of Changing patterns and structure of integration globally; analyses and assessment of the African experience.
- Comparative Politics
POLI 352: Issues in Comparative Politics
Current and pertinent issues in the study of comparative politics will be considered.
POLI 354: State-Society Relations in Ghana since Independence
The changing relations between the state and society; the underlying factors (including civil society, military coups); implications for democracy and human security will be explored.
- Development Studies Strategies of Development in Africa
POLI 356:
The course will involve discussion of main approaches to development including the neoliberal, import substitution industrialization, export-led industrialization, state-led industrialization, basic needs approach, ERP/SAPs, HIPC, African-based strategies from the Lagos Plan to NEPAD.
POLI 358: Conflict and Society in Africa
The course focuses on the Structure and effects of conflicts; refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and other vulnerable groups ±women, children, the disabled, the aged, etc.
- Public Administration
POLI 362: Development Administration
The nature and scope of development and development administration; administrative reform and innovation etc will be on focus.
POLI 364: Public Policy Process in Ghana
This course is a study of the processes of public policy making as a complex interplay of social interests and factors, lobbying; advocacy, coalition building.
ELECTIVES:
POLI 366: Politics and Civil Society in Ghana
The idea and emergence of civil society; theories of civil society; civil society and protection of human rights and democratic values.
POLI 368: Politics in Developing Countries ± East and Southern Africa
The course will examine the institutional, economic and social determinants of politics (both internal and external) using two countries politics from the region as case study.
POLI 372: Political Thought in the Black Diaspora
This course focuses on anti-colonial thinking among African-Americans on Cultural Nationalism, Pan Africanism and Socialism.
POLI 374: Politics of Industrial Relations in Ghana
This is a survey of the context and dynamics State-Labour relations since 1950s.
YEAR 4
LEVEL400 COURSES
Semester 1 CORE:
POLI 441:
This course deals with analyses of domestic and global for development; changing global power structure and development strategies and trends in Africa.
POLI 443: Applied Political Research
The following areas will be covered in this course: Research topic, problematizing research, literature review- reasons and scope: data collection: sampling types, probability and nonprobability samples; direct (e.g. field study) and indirect observation: document analysis; univariate data analysis and descriptive statistics: measuring relationships and testing hypotheses: bivariate data analysis; searching for explanations and causal knowledge: multivariate data analysis; research report writing, citation style and plagiarism: references.
PRESCRIBED ELECTIVES
- International Politics
POLI 445: Politics of International Economic Relations
This course will explore the relations between international politics and international relations; perspectives on international political/economic relations; the post-war economic order and its impact on African countries; globalization and the developing world.
POLI 447: Foreign Policy Analysis
This is a study of issues, principles, and factors that influence foreign policy decisions; and also the various stages, procedures and mechanisms involved.
- Comparative Politics
POLI 449: Politics in Developing Countries ± Western Africa
This course is designed as a study of the institutional, economic and social bases of politics (both internal and external) of the region using 2 countries as examples.
POLI 451: Markets, Politics and Society in Ghana
This course will be a study of the interface between market reforms, politics and society, in particular the changing constitution of the state and effects on human rights; changing social relations, notions of rights and responsibilities.
- Development Studies POLI 453: Gender and Politics
This course will include topics such as theories of gender relations; sexual hierarchy and sexual division of labour, domination and subordination in private and public domains; gender an the problem of access, acquisition, distribution and control of assets/values; women in political (colonial and postcolonial) economic and social development; conflict and post conflict peacebuilding and.social reconstruction .
POLI 455: Post- Conflict Peace-Building and Transitional Justice
The course focuses on issues of post-conflict reconstruction and security – arms proliferation, drug trafficking, mercenaries as well as institutions of transitional justice – International Criminal Court, Truth Commissions, Special courts and tribunals.
- Public Administration
POLI 457: Human Resource Development and Management
Students will be exposed to the nature and scope of human resource management (HRM); the context of HRM; the politics of labour laws; trade unions and industrial relations; employee resourcing and careers; motivating employees, financial rewards and performance management; institutional development and managing change. Emphasis will be placed on the public sector.
POLI 459: Decentralization and Local Governance
The course deals with the structure, nature and patterns of local politics; local governance and administration – structure, practice and problems.
ELECTIVES
POLI 400: Independent Study
This course is spread over 2 semesters. Students are encouraged to conduct an independent research-based study on a topic approved by the Department on the basis of which they will write an essay of not more than 10,000 words.
POLI 461: U.S. Policy towards Africa
This is an overview and analysis of US policy towards Africa and the factors that shape them.
POLI 463: Modern African Thinkers
The course will be a survey of African Political Thought regarding Pan-Africanism, Negritude, Nationalism, Socialism and Development as expounded by Senghor, Nkrumah, Toure,
Nyerere, Cabral, Kaunda, Awolowo, Azikiwe, Fanon, et
* POLI 465: Policy Monitoring and Evaluation
The course will examine the concepts of monitoring and evaluation; types of monitoring and evaluation; the role of evaluators; criteria and techniques for policy monitoring and evaluation and case studies.
POLI 467: The Military and Politics in Ghana
The course explores factors determining military intervention in politics and disengagement; social economic and political consequences of military regimes.
Semester 2 CORE:
POLI 442: Social and Political Theory
This course will focus on the nature and task of political theory; its relation to other social science disciplines as well as Normative and empirical political theory.
POLI 444: Electoral Politics and Democracy in Ghana
The course is a study of the factors shaping electoral politics ± social, structural, political factors; changing patterns of electoral politics; meaning of elections and democracy; the interplay between the dynamics of elections and democracy etc.
PRESCRIBED ELECTIVES
- International Politics
POLI 446:
Factors underlying the foreign policy options of various governments since 1957 will be examined.
POLI 448: ,
system, e.g., Globalisation, NEPAD, Human Security, Debt, HIV/AIDS, Environment, Arms proliferation, WTO etc.
- Comparative Politics
POLI 452: Political and Economic Reform and Democracy in Africa
The course deals with topics such as the politics of reform and the transition to democracy ± internal and external influences; nature of democracy, forms of existing democracy; factors shaping democratic practices and problems and challenges.
POLI 454: Civil-Military Relations in Africa
The course will explore Theories of civil- military relations; patterns of civil military relations in African countries under colonial rule, and in post colonial African countries ± a comparative analysis of formal mechanisms and institutions of civil control of the armed forces; changing patterns and models, the internal/ domestic (including history and politics) and internal forces/factors of change; changing legal and political mechanisms, institutions and frameworks; implications for political stability and political change, human rights and security and social development.
- Development Studies
POLI 456: NGOs and Development in Africa
The course will examined the crisis of the state and development in Africa, emergence of
NGOs ± the international and national dimensions/factors, the role of NGOs and the state in grassroots and national development
POLI 458: Politics of Identity in Ghana
The course will deal with ethnic, regional, religious and other factors shaping forms of political action and alignments and forms of state response.
- Public Administration
POLI 462: Public Sector Reforms and Social Development
The course will focus on analyses of the role the public sector in social development; costs and benefits; changing structure of, and perspectives on, the public sector; its political dynamics and impact on social development.
POLI 464: Politics and the Bureaucracy in Africa
The course will deal with the State, clientelism, prebendalism, corruption and their impact on bureaucracy, appointment and training etc.
ELECTIVES
POLI 466: Politics of Constitution-Making in Ghana
The course examines the purpose and functions of constitutions; historical, political and economic factors and social forces that shape constitutions; the process of constitution-making, its dynamics, the issues and contexts; models of constitution-making processes and a comparative analysis of models
POLI 468: Human Rights in Africa
The course will look at Theories of human rights, human rights instruments, institutions and practices; global response to human rights issues, migration.
POLI 472: Public Finance Administration
The course will deal with Public finance policy; welfare criteria and market failure; public and private goods; collective decision making and the search for the public interest; public expenditure growth; the basic concepts in taxation and problems of tax collection and management; the public debt; the budget process and role of institutions in ensuring fiscal discipline and accountability and fiscal decentralization.
POLI 474: Politics in Developing Countries ± Northern Africa
The course is a study of the institutional, economic and social bases of politics (both internal and external) of the region using 2 countries as examples.
POLI 476: Politics of the Industrialized Countries ± Europe/North America
This is a study of the institutional, economic and social politics on the region using 2 countries as examples.
